Monthly Archives: July 2016

Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club Review

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Disney Cruise Line ShipThe more you cruise, the better the perks!  Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club is a pretty sweet deal for people like us – we love Disney cruises and plan on taking many, many more.  If you’ve not yet taken that first Disney cruise and you’re wondering how to become a member of this particular club, it’s easy!  Simply take one Disney cruise and you’re in!  No application necessary.  The more you cruise, the better the perks of membership.  Membership levels determine the benefits.

After the first cruise, Silver level membership benefits apply.  After five cruises, Gold level is earned and after the tenth Disney sailing, cruisers reach the highly coveted Platinum level.  A helpful chart for all Castaway Club benefits can be found here.

Here’s what we’ve enjoyed most about our Castaway Club membership IMG_1853

Our first cruise (December 2006) was only three days long and boom!  We were in the club.  As we arrived for our second cruise (New Year’s week 2008), we were ushered into the special check-in line for members and were given our Castaway Club lanyards and, once we reached our stateroom, our Castaway Club gift.  Over the years, the gifts have varied, but are usually tote bags or backpacks of some sort, which come in handy right away for shore excursions.  Silver level’s good, but Gold is much better!Magic-Smoke-Stack

When sailing on popular itineraries, the ability to book activities earlier than the general public is very helpful!  Gold level membership allows booking 105 days before sailing (Silver can book at 90 days, Platinum at 120).  I’ll use our Norway cruise on the Disney Magic (June 2015) as an example – we did extensive research and knew exactly what excursions and specialty dining options we wanted.  At precisely 105 days pre-cruise, we booked exactly what we wanted excursion-wise without issue.  When it came to the Palo brunch and dinner we wanted, we did get reservations, but not at the exact times we’d hoped for.  As it turns out, we were told at the Gold and Platinum member reception (another awesome perk!) on the cruise that there were hundreds of Platinum members on board (it was the inaugural sailing in Norway).  Platinum is where we want to be!Magic-on-Deck

On the way to Platinum, every cruise counts regardless of length.  3 and 4-day voyages count just as much as the longer, more exotic cruises.  Our dream is to someday enjoy Platinum membership, but it’s going to take a while to get there since we’ve got to get our Walt Disney World regular fixes and are planning to visit Disney’s Hawaiian resort, Aulani, late next year (if possible).  Magic-on-Deck2

Disney Cruises are a great way to see the world while remaining in the Disney Bubble!  With two more ships to be added to the fleet in 2021 and 2023, we’re looking forward to letting Disney take us to many, many more places!

Where we’ve been:

  • 2006 – Bahamas (3-night)
  • 2008 – Western Caribbean  (7-night)
  • 2010 – Bahamas (5-night Castaway Cay Double Dip)
  • 2011 – Alaska (7-night)
  • 2013 – Mediterranean (7-night)
  • 2015 – Fjords of Norway (7-night)
  • 2016 – Bahamas (4-night)

While on our last cruise, we booked a place-holder for the next one.  We have 24 months sail away on a new adventure.  I have no idea where we’ll go!  Any suggestions?

 

 

Disney Pinocchio Cookie Jar

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Happy Saturday, Disney Friends!  Does anybody have a Disney character cookie jar?  I’ve got a Dalmatian teapot, but I’ve yet to come across a character cookie jar I can afford (I see them in antique stores from time to time and they’re always very pricey).  As usual, Nick and Barbie have all the luck!!!

Disney Pinocchio Cookie Jar

By Nick

We picked up this Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket ceramic cookie jar at a fine cookware retailer, Kitchen Kapers, for $10. There was a minor problem. There is no top. 

 My wife immediately saw this could be used as a planter. 


 This wonderful piece has graced our home for many years now. 

Marked down from $49.99.


 So if you come across a great item that perhaps has an issue, try to figure out if you can repurpose it.

Just let your conscience be your guide. 

 

To read more about Nick’s amazing Disney collectibles and his many Disney adventures, visit the Disney Musings Blog (where this article first appeared).  You can follow Nick on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Pinterest.  You can also listen to Nick, our friend Dave, and me on The Disney Exchange Podcast where we talk about our love for all things Disney – new episodes every Sunday morning.

runDisney Dreaming & Treadmill Woes

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I have developed the most dysfunctional relationship with my treadmill!  Part of the problem is that I’m running on “the replacement” treadmill.  My beloved (yes, you’re allowed to love and become ridiculously attached to exercise machinery) original treadmill survived many years of reliable service.  It helped me train for dozens of races including marathon and half-marathon distances, then it died.

runDisney Dreaming & Treadmill Woes

Sadly, the frame split.  Raymond welded it back together (yes, my sweet husband has mad repair skills), and it finally split again – prompting Raymond to ask me, “Don’t you think it’s done enough and can be put out of its misery?” – and he was right.  That bad boy was awesome, but the time had come to let it go and buy a new one.  I’ve had the replacement since last December, but it’s still not as comfortable to me as the old one.  I’m much slower on this one.  It doesn’t have the same electronic display.  Yes, I’m whiney, but I’m old and we “mature” people tend to be set in our ways.runDisney training selfie

So here’s where I’m at and where I need your help.  I’m trying to lay down a base mileage of 25 miles per week so I can be ready for fall racing.  I can run 1-2 days on the road, but the rest of my running has to be indoors.  I’m looking for all your motivational tips, tricks and playlist suggestions – stuff I can implement to keep me on that stupid treadmill for 4-5 miles per day.  I’m desperate because….RM-Sunrise-runDisney-Princess-Half

Next year’s runDisney races are calling my name!  Princess Half Marathon registration was this week and I saw my friend and fellow blogger, Karen (check her blog out here), post on social media that she was in!  This got me even more excited about my own plans for next year.  Having run the Princess/Glass Slipper Challenge both this year and last, I’ve been wanting to try something new runDisney-wise.  You may recall that my son, Joseph, helped me train for this year’s Glass Slipper Challenge and then stayed home to take care of Junior while I raced. Lisa and Joe training run

 

I owe him a runDisney experience after all of that love and support and I aim to make good in 2017 by registering us both for the Star Wars Dark Side Challenge!

So, with registration looming (I believe in early August) and proof-of-time races in the not too distant future, I’m psyched, yet challenged by my treadmill woes.  Help!  Any and all suggestions to get me through my indoor training are welcome.

Are you doing a runDisney event in 2017?  Which one?  How are you planning to do your training?

 

Disney Vacation Libation – Flights Around the World

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Walt Disney World offers plenty of choices to grown-up guests looking for vacation libations.  For those of us who like trying new foods and drinks, flights have become a popular way to enjoy adult beverages while sampling new flavors.  From beer and wine to whisky, rum, and tequila, there are options all over the place! (As a mom, I feel compelled to add:  Please drink responsibly.)

Disney Vacation Libation – Flights Around the World

This list is in no way all-inclusive.  Rather like the flights featured, this selection of options is but a small sample of the many choices available in Disney’s many pubs and lounges.RM-Rose&Crown-Scotch-Flight2

Rose and Crown – I’ve described in detail the single malt scotch flight in a previous post.  I highly recommend it if you’re a scotch fan and currently priced at $20 for samples of Glenkinchie, Oban, and Lagavulin, it’s a pretty good value.   The next time we stopped by this lively bar in Epcot’s UK Pavilion, we were pleasantly surprised by the rare availability of a table.  Hot, thirsty and with plenty of time to spare, we ordered up a couple of Imperial Sampler beer flights ($12) and sat down to enjoy the atmosphere and tasty flavors of Bass, Harp, Strongbow (cider), Boddingtons, and Guinness – that’s five beers to try (5-ounce pours of each).Rose and Crown Imperial Sampler

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto – Even if you’re not into the specialty cocktails this pub is famous for, Trader Sam’s has something for you.  The Kona Beer Flight is an excellent choice (5-ounce pours each of Longboard Island Lager, Fire Bock Pale Ale, and Castaway IPA).  Trader Sam’s also offers a Rum Flight which includes 3/4-ounce pours each of Bacardi 8-year, Pyrat XO Reserve, and Ron Zacapa Centenario 23-year.Trader-Sam's-Menu-Cover

On Our To-Do List…

La Cava Del Tequila – This very popular (but tiny) spot in Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion offers a highly touted Tequila flight that’s on my must-try list.  Described on the Menu as “La Cava Tequila Flight  22 Casa Noble Blanco, Partida Reposado, and Ambhar Añejo”.  I know next to nothing about tequila (except for a few ill-advised shots in college) and I’m interested to learn more.  Per several sources, the best time to visit this establishment is in early afternoon – could be dicey imbibing in tequila that early in the day, but I’m game.

Possibly Extinct…Morimoto-Asia-Sake-Flight

Morimoto Asia – The Sake Flight may be gone now.  We loved this option during lunch last December and now it appears to have disappeared from the menu.  We thought it was a fantastic way to try different sake styles and had planned on a repeat during our Christmas week visit this year.  Maybe they’ll bring it back or perhaps if we ask the amazing wait staff will work something out for us.  At about $35 per flight, it was pricey, but we thought it was worth a special treat.

What about you?  Have you tried a flight (or more) at Walt Disney World?  What would you recommend?